Picture Credit: FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona has managed to register four of their newly signed players before their opening game of the season at home to Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, as per reports. The Blaugrana has so far registered midfielder Franck Kessie, defender Andreas Christensen and forwards Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, along with their existing players Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto, who renewed their contracts.
But Barcelona has not registered French defender Jules Kounde as the club would have to free up so-called salary mass. The Catalans had to meet LaLiga's salary cap to register their new signings but several "economic levers" including new investment deals helped them release funds as they triggered a final lever yesterday.
The Blaugrana sold 24.5% of Barca Studios to Orpheus Media as Club president Joan Laporta has been selling off portions of revenue streams in exchange for cash upfront. The Catalans had already sold that same amount of equity of the Barca Studios to Socios.com earlier this summer.
A statement addressing this deal read, “FC Barcelona announces the sale of 24.5% of Barça Studios to the company Orpheus Media, managed by Mr Jaume Roures, audiovisual producer with an extensive career in the creation of audiovisual and digital content, for an amount of 100 million euros. This agreement complements the one already signed last July 29 with Socios.com and will serve to accelerate the growth of the Club's digital strategy, NFT and Web.3.”
“The sale has taken term in accordance with the authorization of the General Assembly of Members and Partners of FC Barcelona held last October 23. With these investments, the strategic partners of Barça Studios demonstrate their confidence in the value of the project and the future of digital content in the world of sport.”
But despite these financial problems, the Blaugrana have had a successful preseason and manager Xavi Hernandes was extremely elated with the progress and intensity portrayed by the team.